Objective Assessment of Postoperative Morbidity After Breast Cancer Treatments with Wearable Activity Monitors: The "BRACELET" Study.

Background: Current validated tools to measure upper limb dysfunction after breast cancer treatment, such as questionnaires, are prone to recall bias and do not enable comparisons between patients. This study aimed to test the feasibility of wearable activity monitors (WAMs) for achieving a continuous, objective assessment of functional recovery by measuring peri-operative physical activity (PA).

Methods: A prospective, single-center, non-randomized, observational study was conducted.

General patient satisfaction after elective and acute thoracic surgery is associated with postoperative complications.

Background: Patient's satisfaction has been regarded as a subjective reflection of the quality of care received by patients during their hospital stay. However, which factors may influence patient satisfaction in different healthcare settings needs to be determined.

Methods: Cross-sectional investigation of satisfaction at the time of discharge in 52 consecutive patients admitted in a UK Referral Centre for Thoracic Surgery for either elective (41 patients) or acute (11 patients) procedures.

The impact of an acute chest pain pathway on the investigation and management of cardiac chest pain.

Emergency department (ED) presentation with chest pain accounts for approximately 20% of acute hospital admissions, and delays in the investigation and management of these patients increase the pressure on emergency and medical departments. We implemented a pathway within our trust to improve the efficiency of acute chest pain management. This included the development of a chest pain management algorithm, a short-stay heart assessment centre and a policy to immediately transfer acute coronary syndrome patients to cardiology.